Alan Bromley with his cacti.

Cacti and succulents in focus at Alexandra Park greenhouse

PLANTS large and small will be on show this month when experts bring their enthusiasm for cacti and succulents to the community hub of Alexandra Park greenhouse. Report by Lynda Foy, photos by Colin Foy.

Alan Bromley from the British Cactus and Succulent Society’s Rother Valley branch and his colleague, Christian Hamilton, from the Portslade branch, will give growing tips and offer booklets about their speciality at the Alexandra Park Greenhouse on Saturday 20 July. The event runs from 10.30am to 4pm. Admission is free.

Stuart Riley, from the Rother Valley group, will be selling some of his plants and there will be a stall giving away starter kits to children that include a pot, some compost and a packet of seeds.

Plants galore in Alan Bromley’s collection.

Mr Bromley, who lives at Laughton, near Lewes, said Mr Hamilton’s display will include large plants as well as smaller varieties. He added: “We will show the wide diversity of plants available and tell people about the hobby.

“Cacti are in the same family, but succulents belong to seven families. There are different types of cactus; many people think anything with prickles is a cactus, but they vary in shape and form.”

Greenhouse volunteer Eddie Weeke, who specialises in growing cacti and succulents, will also have some varieties on sale.

The greenhouse is a community project that raises funds for its running costs by ‘recycling’ unwanted plants and then selling them. Access is via St Helens Road, near the Pump House Cafe.

The Rother Valley branch of the British Cacti and Succulent Society meets on the second Thursday every month at 7.30pm in Sedlescombe Village Hall. More details from 07876 024402 or via email.

Painting with scissors

Local artist Amanda Prouten will display her work and run a workshop to craft botanical compositions on Sunday 28 July at the greenhouse.

Entitled Painting with Scissors, the session will give visitors the chance to use colourful painted papers, acrylic paint pens and mixed media to make vibrant pictures. The course is suitable for all levels, although students must be 16 or older. The course will draw inspiration from the plants in the greenhouse.

The workshop will run from 2 to 4,15pm, Tickets costing £35 are available from the website on the events page.

There will be a private view of Amanda’s work on Friday 26 July from 6.30 to 8.30pm and a pop-up exhibition on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July from 10.30am to 1pm. Fifty per cent of Amanda’s sales will be donated to the greenhouse.

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